A recent poll reveals that while voters are somewhat supportive of the initiative to address government inefficiencies, they express concerns about Elon Musk and the execution of cuts by his Department of Government Efficiency. According to the national survey, 46% of respondents believe creating DOGE is a positive move, while 40% disagree, and 13% remain undecided. Opinions are strong, with 40% strongly in favor and 37% strongly opposed.
When asked about their overall perception of DOGE, 41% view it positively, whereas 47% have a negative impression. Musk himself is viewed unfavorably by 51% of those surveyed, with only 39% holding a favorable opinion.
This poll emerges amid significant efforts to reduce the federal government's size during the early days of President Donald Trump’s administration, characterized by rapid spending cuts and workforce reductions. DOGE's actions, including attempts to access sensitive data, lay off employees, and cancel contracts, have led to numerous lawsuits.
President Trump has acknowledged the controversy, stating on social media that department secretaries will oversee job cuts, opting for a precise approach over broad strokes. This statement followed a Cabinet meeting where Musk's initiatives were questioned by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Despite the general support for eliminating inefficiencies, many Americans believe the government should be more proactive. When asked about the government's role, 56% think it should do more to address problems and meet public needs, while 42% feel it is overstepping into areas better handled by businesses and individuals.
Public opinion on federal workers is mixed, with 49% holding positive views, 21% negative, and 29% neutral. This is a decline from January 2019, when 63% viewed federal employees positively, but an improvement from February 2011, when only 42% did.
Regarding DOGE, one-third of voters believe Musk’s efforts to reduce government spending and size should continue, while 28% suggest slowing down to evaluate the impact. Another 33% consider the approach reckless and advocate for an immediate halt. Only 4% see no need for cuts.
Democratic pollster Aileen Cardona-Arroyo notes that when voters can express nuanced views, many are open to giving DOGE a chance, but a majority prefer a cautious approach or feel the direction is misguided.
Skepticism is further fueled by 27% of respondents reporting negative impacts on themselves or acquaintances due to DOGE's changes, with these effects felt across the political spectrum and geographically widespread. Examples include a nonprofit losing funding, a child employed at the Department of Education, and federal workers facing job losses.
Concerns about future uncertainties and potential cuts to programs like Medicaid also contribute to the unease. Fourteen percent of voters know a federal employee affected by layoffs due to DOGE's actions.
The poll, conducted from March 7-11, surveyed 1,000 registered voters through phone and online methods, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.